Chronological Retrospect of the History of Yarmouth and Neighbourhood Part 59

Dec. 5th. The billyboy "Three Anns" driven among the breakers off Gorleston, and the crew rescued by the lifeboat "Ranger."

Dec. 6th. The Corporation resolved to erect a Contagious Disease Hospital next the Workhouse, at a cost of 500, and 200 for an enclosing wall, 200 ft. square by 7 ft. high. A contract of 1,050 was afterwards accepted.

Dec. 6th. Captain R. J. C. Day, harbour master of Ipswich, appointed as Pier Master by the Port and Haven Commission at a salary of 150 and residence.

Dec. 9th. Mr. C. Hall appointed librarian of the Public Library. (See Nov. 23rd.)

Dec. 16th. Mr. T. M. Baker appointed by the Town Council as Town Clerk, at a salary of 450 a year.

Dec. 21st. The returns of herrings landed at the Fishwharf during the season from Aug. 23rd to above date were 11,850 lasts and 2,600 fish.

(18,200 to the last.)

Dec. 24th. Lord Hastings died at Calicut, Bombay, aged 20 years.

Dec. 25th. The sum of 197 2s. subscribed as a testimonial for the Caister Company of beachmen, for their bravery at the wreck of the "Wild Wave," on Nov. 19th, and many former acts of daring in rescuing shipwrecked crews. On Jan. 4th the money was distributed, each of the 40 men receiving four guineas tied up in blue satin bags. (See Nov. 3rd.)

Dec. 26th. Edward Reynolds Aldred, Esq., J.P., died at Southtown, aged 68 years.

Dec. 29th. The new smack "Gem," belonging to Mr. W. H. Stanley, of Southtown, launched from Messrs. J. and F. Mack's yard.

Dec. 30th. Singular freak of a horse ridden by Mr. F. Danby Palmer. The animal having thrown his rider, bolted towards the sea, into which it dashed, and swam out with considerable energy for nearly a mile and a half, towards Scroby, when it was captured by some boatmen, and brought safely to sh.o.r.e again.

1876.

Jan. 3rd. Quarter Sessions. No prisoners for trial, a maiden session not having occurred for more than 20 years, the Mayor presented the Recorder with a pair of white kid gloves.-R. H. I. Palgrave, Esq., qualified as a magistrate for the Borough.

Jan. 4th. Arthur George Thompson (22), incautiously walked on an overhanging cornice at the top of the new Temple, Priory Plain, from which he fell 45 feet to the ground and was killed. The falling _debris_ so injured Thomas Kirk as to result fatally.

Jan. 6th. Five of Mr. Malden's smacks sold for 2,775.

Jan. 6th. Juvenile Fancy Dress Ball at Town Hall.

Jan. 10th. A woman (73), named Hannah Ives, was brutally murdered with a spade by an insane woman, named Swatman, at Belton.

Jan. 13th. Fire in the Card-room of the Town Hall, under the hearthstone, and damage done to the extent of 15 or 16.

Jan. 19th. The smack "Charley," belonging to Mr. Alfred Fisher, launched from Mr. Fellows' yard.

Jan. 20th. Marriage of Reginald Thorsby Gwyn, Esq., Captain of the 4th King's Own Royals, and Adjutant of the 4th Norfolk Rifle Volunteers, with Miss Mary Joanna Farr, youngest daughter of Isaac Preston, Esq.

Jan. 23rd. Collision in the Roadstead, about 1 p.m., between the s.s.

"Glanabanta" (Capt. Ablitt, of Yarmouth) and the s.s. "Transit." The latter, with a crew of 21 all told, of Dieppe (described in the _Veritas_ to be 548 tons gross, 373 tons net [French], engines 90 h.p., and built at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1871), was laden with 120 tons of coal and a general cargo of 290 tons, comprising machinery, silk, cotton, and light manufactures, valued between 30,000 and 40,000. The "Transit" was run on to the beach, opposite Trafalgar Road, where her hull still (1884) remains. The "Glanabanta" claimed 5,000 damages; but in a cross action the "Transit" claimed heavier damages, as the loss was computed to be 50,000. In the High Court of Admiralty, Sir R. Phillimore ruled that the "Transit" was alone to blame for the collision; but on an appeal in the High Court of Justice, Lord Justice Baggallay reversed the decision.

The salvors were awarded 2,000.

Jan. 23rd. The Rev. Mangan, D.D., LL.D., late Dean of Limerick, after being appointed evening lecturer at St. Peter's Church, preached his first sermon.

Jan. 26th. The cabin of the brigantine "William Crow," whilst in harbour, caught fire, and damage was done to the extent of about 200.

Feb. 3rd. First "Spelling Bee" entertainment held in Yarmouth.

Feb. 15th. The Walrond Smack-Beys' Home opened by Earl Nelson. (See June 22nd, 1875.) This Gothic building cost with fittings about 2,000, and will accommodate about 40 boys.

Feb. 21st. Mr. William Laws, as superintendent of St. Nicholas' Sunday School since 1844, presented with several testimonials previous to his leaving for Beccles.

Feb. 22nd. East Suffolk Election. Lord Mahon having been elevated to the House of Peers on the death of his father, his seat in Parliament for East Suffolk became vacant, and Lieut.-Colonel St. John Barne (C.) and Charles Easton, Esq. (L.), contested for the seat. Poll-Colonel Barne, 3,659; Mr. Easton, 2,708-majority, 951. Colonel Barne's election cost 4,140, and Mr. Easton's 2,312.

Feb. 23rd. Fire at Mr. John Harris' pipe manufactory, Priory Plain.

Damage about 150.

Feb. 23rd and 24th. Sir Randal Roberts, Bart., appeared at the Theatre Royal, and impersonated "Charles Devereux" in the comedietta _Under a Veil_, written by himself; and on the 25th and 26th he appeared as "Lieutenant Ringston, R.N.," in _Naval Engagements_, with the Maitland Blue Beard Burlesque Company.

The Marine Drive widened 60 feet, between Britannia and Wellington Piers, a distance of 3,000 feet; cost, 2,500. (See April 22nd.)

A new gasometer (No. 3), capable of holding 63,000 cubic feet of gas, and its tank 406,350 gallons of water, was erected at the Southtown Gas Works, which, with other modern improvements, cost 5,000.

April 1st. The Hon. Frederick Walpole, of Rainthorpe Hall, Flordon, M.P.

for North Norfolk, died in London. Deceased was third surviving son of the third Earl of Orford, and was born in 1822.

April 14th. Loss of the "Cygnet" and all hands.

April 18th. The full-rigged ship "Humboldt," with 349 emigrants on board, ran on to Winterton Beach.

April 20th. The Rev. G. Merriman, M.A., presented with a gold watch, silver tea service, and a silver claret jug, by the St. James'

congregation.

April 21st. Lieutenant-Colonel James Duff elected a Member of Parliament for North Norfolk, in place of the Hon. F. Walpole, deceased. (See April 1st, 1876, and Nov. 26th, 1868.) Poll-Colonel Duff (C.), 2,302; Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, Bart. (L.), 2,192; majority, 110. Out of the 6,231 voters on register, only 4,494 voted. Number on register in the Borough (including Runham), 1,980; number voted in Yarmouth, 1,380.

April 22nd. R. Morgan, Esq., C.E., Government Board Inspector, visited Yarmouth respecting the borrowing of 3,300 by the Corporation, for widening the Drive, &c.

April 23rd. Lady Elizabeth Susan Orde died at Hopton. She was eldest daughter of Henry Charles, sixth Duke of Beaufort, and born June 23rd, 1798.

April 28th. E. P. Youell, Esq., presented by the parishioners of Gorleston with a ma.s.sive silver four-gla.s.s epergne, value 80, for his zealous exertions in connection with the restoration of Gorleston Church.

(See Aug. 14th, 1871.)

May 9th. The Yarmouth brig "Tradesman" lost on the Normandy coast.

June 2nd. Meeting at the Town Hall resolved to have a four-dial clock in St. Peter's Tower, which was placed there the same year.

June 8th. The Gt. Yarmouth Bowling Green opened.

June 13th. Vice-Admiral Thomas Lewis Gooch, youngest son of the late Sir Thomas Sherlock Gooch, Bart., died at Yarmouth, aged 69 years.

June 22nd. Capt. Wm. Holt, 16 years connected with the 2nd N.R.V., presented, on his retirement, with four elegantly-chased silver dessert spoons by the members of D. Company. (See Dec. 4th, 1883.)

July 8th. Heavy thunderstorm. The electric fluid struck the chimney and entered a cottage in the factory yard, disarranging and breaking the furniture and ornaments in the room; it also did damage to other property in the town, including some amount of destruction of property belonging to Mr. H. Harding, St. Nicholas' Road, who had a large chimney knocked down and many squares of gla.s.s broken.